Straplift loading system

ABSTRACT

A STRAPPED LOAD CAN BE LIFTED BY POSITIONING A STRAPLIFT DEVICE OVER THE LOAD AND HORIZONTALLY SLEWING LOADLIFTING ARMS OF THE STRAPLIFT DEVICE THROUGH THE TOP LOADLIFTING STRAPP ARC OF THE STRAPPED LOAD FROM THE HIGH POINT OF THE ARC AND SUSPENDINGLY LIFTING IN THE LOAD BY THE STRAP.

Sept. 20, 1971 H. MORGAN STRAPLIFT LOADING s smu 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1969 HOWARD MORGAN INVENTOR.

BY Z 7 g I ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 H. MORGAN STRAPLIFT LOADING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1969 MORGAN mvsmox 0 M W O H ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 H. MORGAN STRAPLIFT LOADING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20, 1969 HOWARD none:

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,606,056 STRAPLIFT LOADING SYSTEM Howard Morgan, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignor to Skagit Corporation, Sedro Woolley, Wash. Original application Jan. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 706,739, now Patent No. 3,493,259, dated Feb. 3, 1970. Divided and this application Aug. 20, 1969, Ser. No. 851,571 Int. Cl. 1366c N18 US. Cl. 214-152 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A strapped load can be lifted by positioning a straplift device over the load and horizontally slewing loadlifting arms of the straplift device through the top loadlifting strap arc of the strapped load from the high point of the arc and suspendingly lifting the load by the strap.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 706,739, filed Jan. 25, 1968, which has matured into Pat. No. 3,493,259.

This invention relates to load-lifting methods for lifting strapped loads by engaging and lifting a strap loop that extends above the top of the load.

Lumber, plywood, bales of pulp, and other materials are often strapped into prepackaged units for shipment. By providing a load-lifting strap loop or loops at the top of these prepackaged units, a straplift type of load lifting apparatus can be positioned over a load to engage the top strap loop or loops for loading and unloading the prepackaged unit. Such a system is particularly suitable for loading a cargo ship and other transport vehicles where limited storage space dictates against palletizing the cargo. Such a system is also suitable where limited space at the loading area makes the use of the fork lift type of vehicle diflicult or otherwise undesirable. The system employs a method wherein the loop is lifted into a downwardly facing arc and lifting arms are introduced into the loop at its high point and are then moved laterally to the low point of the arc prior to lifting.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the invention, adapted to engage a single load-lifting strap loop and carry out the method, shown in a nonload-lifting position;

FIG. 2 depicts the FIG. 1 embodiment for carrying out the lifting method in a load-lifting position;

FIG. 3 depicts an assembly of FIGS. 1-2 units adapted to engage a plurality of load-lifting strap loops at the same time;

FIG. 4 depicts in side elevation another embodiment adapted to engage a single load-lifting strap loop and carry out the lifting method;

FIG. 5 depicts the FIG. 4 embodiment in top plan vlew;

FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment for carrying out the method and adapted to be carried by a lift mast of a lift vehicle;

FIG. 7 depicts the FIG. 6 embodiment in top plan view;

FIG. 8 depicts the FIG. 6 embodiment in side elevation view;

FIG. 9 depicts an assembly of FIGS. 4-5 units adapted to engage a plurality of load-lifting strap loops at the same time;

FIG. 10 depicts another assembly of units adapted to engage a plurality of load-lifting strap loops at the same time; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed fragmentary top plan view of the FIG. 10 embodiment with parts removed for clarity.

In brief, the apparatus for carrying out the method of this invention comprises a frame adapted to be positioned 3,606,056 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 ice over a strapped load, load lifting means carried by the frame and adapted to be slewed underneath a load-lifting strap or straps at the top of the load by pivotable extension or otherwise and means carried by the frame for slewing the load lifting means into and out of load lifting relation to the top strap loop or loops. The frame may be supported in a variety of ways, such as by suspension cables from a loading boom or by the lift mast of a lift vehicle. Magnet means, either permanent or electro, are employed to contact the top strap loop and hold the loop away from the top of the load preparatory to the load lifting means being slewed into a load-lifting position.

The load lifting means preferably comprises arms cantilevered from rotatable shafts and pivotable about the shaft axis of rotation. The arms and their respective shafts may be forged as a unit or provided as separate units welded or otherwise integrally connected. The arms are paired with the arms of each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the frame with magnet means being disposed between the arms of each such pair. The arms extend inward toward one another when in a nonload-lifting position and pivot outward under a load-lifting position, the loop being arched upward by contact with the magnet means to facilitate pivotal passage of the arms through the loop.

The load-lifting arm slewing means may be designed to either pivot the arms outward to either point in the same direction relative to the frame or point in opposite directions relative to the frame. In the first case, the arms would be positioned on the same side of a load-lifting strap loop and in the second case the arms would be positioned to straddle the loop.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of one embodiment of this invention is shown as comprising a frame 10, load-lifting means comprising left and right hand load lifting arms or hooks 12 and 14 pivotably connected to and horizontally cantilevered below the underside of the frame, and magnet means 16 connected to the underside of the frame between the two arms 12 and 14. When the frame 10 is properly positioned over a strapped load 13 with the arms turned inward toward one another as shown, the magnet 16 will contact the lifting loop section of the metal strap 20 and thereby hold the loop open for the arms 12 and 14. Means within the frame for extending the arms through the loop section can then be actuated to pivot the arms outward and underneath the top strap to the position shown in FIG. 2, the strap loop being drawn away from the magnet and taut across the arms. The frame can then be raised to lift the load.

FIG. 3 depicts a gang of four sets of left and right hand load lifting arms 12 and 14 carried by a common frame 10 which is itself suspended from above by a cable arrangement 22. As in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment, the arms pivot in toward one another and out in the same directions relative to the frame 10. This embodiment is suitable for lifting several independently strapped loads at once, and for lifting an elongated load having several sets of load-lifting straps positioned along its length.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict another embodiment whereina single set of horizontal load lifting arms 112 and 114 are carried by the frame 110. In this embodiment the arms are cantilevered from vertical rotatable shafts 113 and 115 that are pivotally journaled in diagonally opposite corners of the frame. The vertical shafts are interconnected by suitable linkages to a rotary actuating means 124 mounted between and in line with the vertical shafts. The arms in this embodiment extend inward, parallel to one another and to the sides of the frame, when in a nonstrap-engaging position. When the frame is positioned over a strapped load, the strap loop will extend parallel with the retracted arms and between the vertical shafts so as to be engageable with magnet means 116 carried by the frame beneath the rotary means 124. Upon actuation of the rotary means, the arms will pivot in opposite directions relative to the frame underneath the strap to positions again parallel to one another but at right angles to their retracted, nonload-lifting positions. The frame is provided with four depending positioning pods or feet 125 designed to contact the load when the frame is lowered into position and support the frame at the proper height above a strapped load for the magnet to group the load-lifting strap preparatory to the arms being extended to their load-lifting positions.

The arm-operating linkages comprise equal length crank arms 130 and 132 attached to the vertical shafts 113 and 115, respectively, intermediate linkages 134 and 136 pivotally connected at one end to the free ends of the respective crank arms, and a cross link 138 rotatably connected at its midpoint to the rotary means 124 and pivotally connected at its ends to the opposite ends of the intermediate links 134136. Thus, as the rotary means rotates the cross link 138 through 90, the arms will alsobe swung through 90.

The rotary means 124 may be a hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically operated rotator unit as depicted. It may alternately comprise another linkage assembly adapted to mechanically rotate a vertical shaft rotatably connected to its cross link 138 at its midpoint.

FIG. 9 depicts a gang of four sets of left and right hand load lifting arms 112 and 114 carried by a common frame 110 which is itself suspended by a cable arrangement. As in the FIGS. 4 and 5 embodiment, the arms pivot in opposite directions relative to the frame 110 when the arms the FIG. 3 embodiment, is suitable for lifting several independently strapped loads at once, and for lifting an elongated load having several sets of load lifting straps positioned along its length.

FIGS. 6-8 depict another embodiment adapted to be mounted in cantilever fashion from the upright mast of a lift vehicle. In this embodiment, the frame 210 can be raised or lowered on the lift vehicle mast 208 and also can be pivoted relative to the mast for slewing the load. The horizontal load lifting arms 212 and 214 are cantilevered from vertical rotatable shafts 113 and 115 that are pivotally journalled at corresponding positions on opposite ends of the frame. The vertical shafts are adapted to be swung for retraction and extension in the same directions relative to the frame and in this regard are similar to the load lifting arms of the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment. Left and right cylinder rod assemblies 240-242 are pivotally mounted at their cylinder ends to one side of the frame and are pivotally connected at their rod ends to crank arms 244 and 246, respectively, which are attached to the respective vertic-al shafts 213215. Thus, by extension and retraction of the cylinder rods, the arms will be pivoted in the manner described above in regard to the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment.

The frame is pivotally mounted at its vertical midpoint to a cantilevered support member 248 and is pivotable about its vertical midpoint by a cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 250. The cylinder end of assembly 250 is pivotally mounted to a side plate 249' of the support member 248 and the rod end of assembly 250 is attached to the top wall of the frame 210. A magnet means 216 is att-ached to the underside of the support member 248 below the frame vertical midpoint for contact with load lifting strap loops for formation of the archway preparatory to extension of the load-lifting arms into their load-lifting position.

As depicted particularly in FIGS. 6-8, the free ends of the load-lifting arms of all embodiments are preferably provided with transverse, outwardly-extending guards 252 and 254, respectively. The guards facilitate passage of the arms underneath the strap loop as they are extended to a load-lifting position. As such, they are tapered on the upper side of their outer ends. These guards further, and

4 more importantly, serve to ensure that the strap loop will be contained on the load lifting arms, it being noted that the guards extend outward beyond the arms and beyond the down-turned sections of the strap loop.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict another gang of left and right hand load lifting arm sets wherein the arms 312-314 pivot in the same direction relative to the frame. In this embodiment, the vertical shafts 313-315 of the load lifting arms are journalled to cross beams 360 that are connected to and extend transversely to the sidewalls of the frame 310. The cross beams carry longitudinally-slidable elongated arm-actuating transfer beam 362 on the longitudinal center of the frame. The beam 362 and the arms 312-314 are interconnected by linkage comprised of cross links 364 mounted at their midpoints to the underside of the beam 362, crank arms 366 and 368 connected to the vertical shafts 313315, and intermediate links 370 and 372 pivotally interconnecting the crank arms and the cross links. The cross links are positioned on the beam 362 relative to the vertical shafts 313-315, such that the arms are pivotally retracted inward toward one another when the beam 362 is moved to bring the intermediate links 370372 parallel to the beam as shown in FIG. 11, and such that the arms are pivotably extended to a loadlifting position when the beam is moved to bring the intermediate links perpendicular to the beam as shown in FIG. 10. The beam 362 is shifted by an axial hydraulic cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 374 mounted at one end to an end wall of the frame and at the other end to the beam, the stroke of the assembly being equal to the spacing between the pivot points of the intermediate links 370372. Hydraulic fluid supply means 376 are carried by the frame as shown in FIG. 10.

In each of the foregoing embodiments the method of the invention is carried out by first lifting the loop into a downwardly facing arc, positioning the lifting arms into the loop at its high point, laterally moving, by slewing, the arms outward to the ends of the loop, and then raising the arms into lifting engagement with the loop.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of handling loads encircled by a strap having an upper lifting loop with a lifting device having spaced lifting arms, the method comprising:

lowering said lifting device over the strapped load;

raising the loop of said load into a downwardly facing arc;

positioning the lifting arms into said loop by inserting the free ends of the lifting arms into the loop approximately at the high point of said arc and moving the arms outwardly toward the lateral ends of the loop; and

raising the arms into lifting engagement with said loop.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said lifting arms are horizontally cantilevered; wherein said straplift device is positioned over said load such that said load lifting arms are positioned on opposite sides of said loop; and wherein said lifting arms are horizontally pivoted in opposite directions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame into a load lifting position.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said lifting arms are horizontally cantilevered; wherein said straplift device is positioned over said load such that said lifting arms are positioned on the same side of said lifting loop; and wherein said lifting arms are horizontally pivoted in the same direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame into a load lifting position.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of slewable load lifting arms are provided on said straplift device; wherein a plurality of independently strapped loads are provided; and wherein said straplift device is lowered onto said plurality of loads and simultaneously engages and lifts said plurality of loads.

6 5. A method of handling prepackaged loads which com- References Cited prises providing a load with at least one encircling metal UNITED STATES PATENTS strap having a load lifting loop at the top thereof; posi- 517 730 4/1894 Carr tioning a straplift device over said load lifting loop, said 1,730:128 10/1929 Drakg4 67.zc straplift device having horizontally slewable load lifting 5 1 7 5 023 1930 Mcwane 294 67 2C arms extending from a frame, and magnet means mounted 2,695,809 11/ 1954 Hooker 294--67.2C on said frame; lowering said straplift device onto said load 3,532,376 10/1970 Munck 294--81X such that said magnet contacts said load lifting loop to GERALD M FORLENZA, Primary Examiner hold said load llfting loop above said load; slewlng said 10 G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner load lifting arms between said load and said load lifting arms into a load lifting position; and raising said straplift U C1. ,R device to suspendingly raise said load. 294--7 4, 81 

